Queen (Album, 1973)

Queen debut album

Queen, debut album Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony and Queen
Engineered by Roy Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe, Dave Hentschel.
Cover Concept by Freddie, Brian and Douglas Puddifoot

Freddie Mercury : Vocals,Piano
Brian May : Guitars,Piano,Vocals
Deacon John : Bass Guitar
Roger Meddows-Taylor : Percussion,Vocals
… and nobody played synthesizer.

Recommended Songs : Keep Yourself Alive (May), My Fairy King (Mercury), Liar (Mercury)

Review

Queen was the first of Queen’s studio albums which I ever purchased back in 1992, and it lead me to go on and buy the rest, so it you can take it from me it is good. What a way to start a bands first album, with the rocking and bombastic Keep Yourself Alive, a song which to this day still stands up against the rest of Queen’s back catalogue.

This is Queen’s 1973 debut album and is probably one of their their most underrated album of that decade. At this stage, Queen had signed a deal with Trident and they had many musical ideas which they were trying out on the album. The self titled album Queen, was recorded during studio off time, when the studio was not being used by more famous artists. Also, this was Freddie’s first opportunity to avail of a full size piano. Already in this album you can hear Brian May’s orchestrated guitar harmonies, the multi-tracked vocal harmonies, imaginative lyrics and musical dynamics which could change from heavy rock to a piano ballad in seconds.

Most tracks on the album probably not as well known as the band’s later material, the album is a very good listen from beginning to end – the most well known track on the album is probably “Keep Yourself Alive” which featured on some singles and foreign compilations.

Some quotes from the eara when Queen was released :

“Far above-average rock set from British band, featuring powerful lead vocals from Freddie Mercury and superb guitar work, acoustic and electric, from Brian May.” – Billboard 1973

Did You Know …. “The Night Comes Down” is taken from a 1971 demo tape recorded at De Lane Lea studios and apparently reflects the fact that it was nearly always Night when Queen were recording, as they did so in down time, therfore it could have been 1am when they were recording some of the tracks.